Hedge clipper or trimmer



May 1, 1923.

E. C. CONRADE HEDGE CLIPPER 0R TRIMMER 1o Smeets-sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14

@Noting May I, 1923. 1,453,621

E. c. CONRADE HEDGE CLIPPER OR TRIMMER Filed Feb. 14., 1922 1o sheessheet 2 I May 1, 1923.

' E. C. CONRADE' HEDGE CLIPPER OR TRIMMER sheetl 5 Filed Feb. 14 1922 .l0 `Sheets gwuemfoz '4 Z. C. Comrade @2M/m iwf/www:

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May l, 1923.

E.'C. CONRADE HEDGE CLIPPER 0R TRIMMER Filed Feb. 14 f 1922 l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 'A l.. "v l In/ventola; j ICCO/md5 55's' am M alliez nu;

Mayl, 1923.

E. C. CONRADE HEDGE CLIPPER OR TRIMMER Filed Feb. 14 1922 l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 k. -Mfiddf Ginny-w14 E. C. oNRADE HEDGE CLIPPER OR -TRIMMER May 1, 1923.

Filed Feb. 14, 1922 1o sheets-sheet e May l, 1923.

HEDGE CLIPPER 0R TRIMMER Filed Feb. 14, 1922 l0 Sheets-Sheet B May l, 1923.

E. c; coNRADE HEDGE GLIPPER OR TRIMMER Filed Feb, 14. 1922 ,l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 C. @ohra de wwf/0 alito: nu; y' K Patented May 1, 1923.

EVERETTE C. GONRADE, 0F LEWISVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA. l

HEDGE CLIPPER 0R TRIMMER.

Application led February 14, 1922. Serial No. 536,426.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Evnnnrrn C. CON- RADE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lewisville, in the county of Forsyth and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hedge Clippers or Trimmers, of which the followinO is a specification.

he object of my said invention isI the provision of a portable and manually-operable organized 'mechanism through. the medium of which a hedge can be expediftiously and efficiently clipped or trimmed in a finished manner.

To the attainment of the foregoing,fthe invention consists in the improvement as hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my novel apparatus as actually reduced to prac'- tice and successfully operated.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the ap- .paratus Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken in the plane indicated by the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is .an inverted plan view of a portion of the apparatus and hereinafter explicitly referred to. T

Figure 6 is a detail vertical transverse section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.'

Figure 7 is a detail horizontal section on line 7-7 of Figure 1.

a Figure 8 is an enlarged top plan of the carriage, with the cover removed.

Figure 9 is a detail section on line 9-9 of Figure 2.

Figure 1() is a detail section on line 1010 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Figure 8.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail fragmentary elevation of the cutting mechanism.

Figure 13 is a detail section on line 13-13 of Figure 1.

Figure 14 is an end elevation with the cutting mechanism positioned at an angle from the vertical.

Figure 15 is a detail section on line 151- 15 of Figure 2, u

Figure 16 is a detail section online 16 16 of Figure 3.

Fi the lines 17-17 and 18--18, respectively, of Figure 1. i

Figure 19 is a top view, partly` lbroken away, showing a modification for hedgetop trimming. v, l

Figure 20 is' a section on line'20-20 of Figure 19.

Figures 21, 22 and 23 are detailviews illustrative of another modification, FiguresV 21 and 22, being taken atrightangles tol res 17 and 18 are detailsections on` each other, andFigure 23 beingtakenon n the line 23-23 of Figure 21.` v

Figure 24 is an enlarged detail ofV another i modification.

Similar numerals designate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 18. Y

By comparison ofFigures 1,52, 3 and-.14

the illustrated base of the trimmer which is g adapted to be slidably moved on the ground will be understood as comprising longitudinal bars ljand 2 in parallelism, transverse end bars 3 and 4 interposedbetween and fixed tothe bars 1 and 2the connections being reenforced by corner` irons 5, and a longitudinal platform 6 'superimposed on and fixedto the end bars 3 and 4. Itis intended for the operator lto stand `on the said ,platform 6 while actuating the trimmer. l

Fixed to the said platform 6, adjacentto one end of the base is'an upright 7, at the upper end of which is a lateral inwardlydirected arm 8, provided with pendent flanges 9, and vertical apertures 10, Figure 15.

At 11 on the base bar 4 are fixed standards, Figures 3,v 6 `and 7 and at 12 'on the base bar 1 is a fixed lateral projection on which is a standard 13, Figures 1, 3 and 16. f

Adjustably fixed relative kto the standard 13 is a forward rod 14, the adjustable -fixture being effected by clamping members 15 and 16 and a headed screw 17.;y The said forward rod 14 has its upper end conneci apparatus may be provided at its four corners with ground wheels designed to facilitate movement of the apparatus, one of the said wheels being shown in Figure 24 and designated byA 22.

Pivotally connected between the standards 11 on the base is a column 23, capable of belng swung in the direction of the width of the trimmer, Figures 3 and 14. Thesaid column 23 is hollow and of rectangular form vin horizontal section. 1n its front wall is a vertical channel`24, Figures 1, 4, 6, 17 and 18, the inner wall of the said channel being provided with steps or vertically spaced supports 25. On the upper end of vthe column 23 is a standard26 to which is pivotally connected a rod 27 with a pendent free end 28 adapted to be socketed in one of the apertures 10v of the arm 8. Because of the said provision the column may be secured in verticaly position for the trimming of a vertical hedgeside or may be adjustably iXed at various angles ot inclination for the trimming of inclined hedge sides.

Bv particular reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 17 and 18 it will be understood that a sleeve 30 correspond-ing in cro-ssesection to 'and snugly fitting the column. 23 is adjustable up and down thereon. Fulcrumed at 31 on a bracket 32 is a lever 33, backed by a spring 34 and having-an angulaily-disposed upper end portion 35 to engage the steps or s supports and thereby maintain the sleeve Cil at various heights. Also carried by the sleeve 30 is a lateral projection 36 on which is a journal 37 lfor a wheel 38, Figures 6, 17 and 18, with beveled teeth 39 at its inner or rea-r side and similar teeth 40 at its outer or forward side. Manifestlywhen the wheel 38 is turned through a part of a. revolution in the direction indicated by the arrow 'in Figure 17, one of the teeth 39 thereof operating against the lower arm of the lever 33 will disengage the upper portion of the lever from one step 25 ot the column 23 and permit the sleeve-30 to gravitationally move downwardly until the lever portion 35 brings up against and rests on the-next lower step 25 ofz the column 23. 1n this way the cutting mechanism is located step by step downwardly to operate on a hedge from the topto thebottom or lower portion thereof. rllo easethevertical movements on the column-23, saidsleeve carries anti-friction rollers 41 and 41X which bear against opposite sides.=ofrsaid column 23 at points above and below the sleeve 30, respectively. It will .also benotic'ed that the said rollers 41 and 41X bear against the opposite sides of the column 23,v at points above and below the sleeve- 30, with a view to assisting in preventing sagging of saidy longitudinal sup port.

The Alongitudinal carriage-support alluded to :is:` designated by 50, and the Carriage :nov-

able rectilinearly on the said support 50 is designated by 51. Movable in a longitudnal direction under the support 50 and in appropriate guides carried by said support is a rod 52 with a lateral beveled toe 53 at one end, opposed to the teeth ot the wheel 38. 1t will lalso be noticed that the rod 52 is provided adjacent to thc-toe 53 with a reduced and resilient portion 54 to enable the toe end of the rod to flex laterally. At 55, Figure 1, the rod 52 is provided with a stop to bring up against the guide 56 on the support so as to limit the movement of the toe 53 outwardly beyond the position shown in Figure 17, and as means for re taining the rod in a position in which the toe would engage the successive steps 40 of the wheel 38 there is provided a retractile spring 57,.Figures 1, 4 and 5, interposed between and connected to the guide 56 and the rod 52. The rear end'of the rod 52 is bent upwardly and forwardly, as designated by 58 in Figure 4, and is provided with a head 59. Therefore when the operator desires to lower the sleeve 30, the support 50 and the carriage 51, it is simply necessary for him to move the carriage 51 toward the left in Figures 2 and 4 sutliciently tar for the carriage to retract the rod 52 against the action of the spring 57. Thenr as the carriage 51 is moved toward the right the contraction of spring 57 will move the rod 52 toward the right and restore the toe 53 to normal position. The movement o'l' rod 52 by the carriage 51 will turn wheel 38 and disengage the lever portion 35 from a step 25 of the column 23 and permit of the described gravitation ot' the sleeve 30, support 50 and carriage 51. l

At 60 on the support 50,v Figures 1 and 13, a pendent lug, and fixed to said lng 60 is a lateral rod 61 having a sleeve 62 which loosely receives the rod portion 19, whereby said rod portion is enabledvto assist in holding the support 50 against casual movement.

On the support 50 are longitudinal rack bars 70, and on the carriage 51 is a handle 71 through the medium of which the carriage can be conveniently reciprocated by the operator. It will also be understood by comparison of F igures-2, 4, 8 and 9 that the support 50 is provided with a longitudinal slot-72, and that the carriage 51 is provided.

with pendent guide portions 73 in'said slot, and with antifriction wheels 74 and 75 to bear against the upper side and lower side, respectively, of the slotted wallof the suppo-rt. At 76 said guide portions 73 are grooved, Figure 5, so as to avert interference between the guide portions and the rod 52.

As best shown in Figures 2, 8 andy 9 the carriage 51 is provided with a lateral eX- tension 8O on the end of which is an upright 81, equipped with a finger bar 82: included in a cutting mechanism which also comprises a reciprocatory sickle 83. Said upright 81 is braced at 84.

For ythe reciprocation of the sickle 83 on movement of the carriage toward the right in Figure 1, I provide the driving connection best shown in Figures 1, 2, 4. 8 and 9 which connection comprises a crank disk 85 on a transverse shaft 86 which also carries a balance wheel 86*, a pitman 87 between said disk and the sickle 83, a shaft 88, spur gears 89 fixed on said shaft and meshed with the racks 70, a spur gear 90 fixed on the shaft 88, a gear 91 loose on the shaft 86 and meshed with the gear 90, a disk 92 also loose on the shaft 86 but fixed to the gear 91, a ratchet 93 fixed on the shaft 86, anda spring-pressed pawl 94 carried by the disk 92 and the ratchet 93 to reciprocate the sickle 83 incident to movement of the carriage 51 to# ward the right in Figure 1. Manifestly on movement of the carriage 51 toward the left in Figure 1 the pawl 94 will idle over the ratchet 93 and hence the sickle 83 will not be moved relative to the finger bar 82. For the sake. of p compactness the gearing described is arranged partially in a chamber 95 in the upper side of the carriage 51, a hinged cover 96 being normally arranged over the said gearing, as illustrated.

At 97 the carriage support 50 is provided with a handle, preferably bail-shaped as v illustrated, and designed to enable an o-perative to readily lift the carriage support 50.

It will be apparent from `the foregoing that through theA medium of my novel apparatus, an operator is enabled to clip a considerable stretch of hedge step by step from top to bottom, and then after moving the apparatus lengthwise is enabled to similarly cut an adjoining stretch of hedge, and soon throughoutthe length of the hedge. It will also be apparent that but little effort is required to reciprocatethe carriage 51 and actuate the cutting mechanism'i. e., the sickle 83, while to bring about the gravitation of the support 50 and the parts carried thereby it is simply necessary to move the carriage. 51 suiiiciently far 'rearwardly to engage the head 59 and retract the rod 52.

' To shift the lclipping organization from the position shown in Figure 3 to the inclined position shown in Figure 14 or to other angles of inclination, it is simply necessary to first loosen the screw 17, adjust the support 50 laterally to the extent desired and then tighten the said screw 17.

In the modification shown in Figures 19 and 20 a horizontally-disposed cutting mechanism is carried on the lateral extension of the carriage 51* for the clipping of the top of a hedge; the crank in said embodiment being in the form of a miter arranged through cooperation with gear meshed with a miter gear 8.5z on a shaft 86* rotated in the manner beforexdescribed. It will also be noted that` the horizontal sickle 83* is reciprocatedf by the'crank disk 85* throughthe rod or pitman 87* In Figures 21, 22 and 23, I show modified means forsupporting lthe sleeve and the carriage-support on the column. rI`he sleeve is designated 30", the carriagesupport 50* and the column 23*. As shown the column 23* is provided at opposite sides with vertical racks 100 and 101, meshed 100 is an idle gear 41w carried by posed above the said sleeve 30*. with the rack 101 and adapted to lhold the sleeve 30* against downward movement is a gear 102 fixed on a shaft 103,*journaled in bearings on the sleeve 30". Also fixed on the shaft 103 is a gear v104 that is intermeshed with a gear 105 carried by the sleeve 30* and arranged alongside thereof. Fixed with respect to the gear 105 at the outer side thereof is a wheel 35* with apertures 40". At 52* is a longitudinal rod corresponding to and operated in the same manner as the before described rod 52.' The `said rod `52" is providedat 53* with a portion in `which is a cam slot 54*, and p-ivoted at 55* to the sleeve 30* and extending through saidcam slot 54* is a detent 56* with a lateral upper end portionv 57"- adapted toenter thefapertures40*, one by one, and thereby hold the wheel 35* against turning, and the sleeve 30* and the support 50* against gravitational movement. At 'on the sleeve 30* is a guide arm forthe rod.` 52* on the for ward end of .which is a head 111, designed to limit rearward movement of the said rod 52* when the latter ismoved rearwardly by? the'carriage 51 in the manner before described. -It being rememberedthat Figure 23 is a horizontal section, it will be under-r stoodthat rearward movement of the rod 52* will be attended by outwardv movementv of the detent 56* and withdrawal of the end portion 57* thereof from .one aperture` 40* of wheel 35* whereupon the released sleeve and diswith the :rack

Meshed i I 30* will gravitate and the wheel 105 will be tunned until the next aperture 40* is .opposite the detent portion 57* when said portion will enter said aperture and hold the sleeve 30* against further gravitational action, the

spring 57, Figure 1, having atthat time operated to move rod 52* forwardly so as to cause the cam slot 54* by acting against .the detent 56* to move said detent into the normal position illustrated. Manifestly inthe "manner described the construction shown in I have entered into a detailed description of the construction and relative arrange ment of the parts embraced in the present and preferred embodiments of my invention in order to impart a full, clear and exact understanding of the said embodiments. l do not desire, however, to be understood as confining myselfto the said specific construction and relative arrangement of parts inasmuch as in the future practice of the invention various changes and moditications may be made such as 'tall within the scope of my invention as delined in my appended claims.

Having described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:-

l. ln a hedge clipper, the combination ci' a longitudinal support, a carriage movable manually to and tro thereon, cutting mechanism carried by said carriage, and cooperating means on the support and carriage to actuate the cutting mechanism by movement of the carriage relative to the support; the means on the carriage including a ratchet and pawl whereby the cutting mechanism idles on movement of the carriage in one direction.

2. In a hedge clipper, the combination ot a longitudinal support, a carriage i'novable manually to and `fro thereon, cutting mechanism carried by said carriage, and cooperating means on the support and carriage to actuate the cutting` mechanism by movement of the carriage relative to the support; the said means on the support being a longitucinal rac-lr bar, and means on the carriage including a gear meshed with the rack bar and a driving connection between the gear and the cutting mechanism and embodying a ratchet and pawl whereby the cutting mechanisin is caused to idle on movement ot the carriage in one direction.,

3. in a hedge clipper, the combination of a longitudinal support, a carriage movable manually to and fro thereon, cutting' mechanism carried by said carriage, and cooperating means on the support and carriage to actuate the cutting mechanism by movement of the carriage relative to the support; the said carriage being provided with a lateral extension, and the cutting mechanism being located on said extension.

t. ln a hedge clipper, the combination of a longitudinal support, a carriage movable manually to and fro thereon, cutting mechanism carried by said carriage, and cooperatmeans on the support and carriage to actuate the cutting` mechanism by movement of the carriage relative to the support; the cutting mechanism comprising a finger bar and a reciprocatory sickle, the means on the support beine a rack, and the means on the carriage including a gear meshed with said rack, a balance wheel, and a connection between the gear and the sickle and having a ratchet and pawl.

5. In a hedge clipper, the combination of a column, gravitational means. associated therewith, a support carried by and extending from said means, meansy to detachably mld said gravitational means against downward movement, a carriage on the support and carrying cutting mechanism, means to actuate said mechanism, and means operable by the carriage to release the gravitational means, said detachably holding means constructed and arranged to catch and holdthe gravitational means following` downward movement thereof, and the carriage-operable means including a longitudinal rod below the carriage with an apertured end and a head thereon :tor the engagement of the carriage, and a spring to move said rod., in one direction.

6. ln a hedge clipper, ,the combination of a base, a column hinged thereto, a longitudinal support connected with and supported y the column, adjustable means associated with the base and the longitudinal support to maintain said support and the column in various positions, a carriage movable on the support, and cutting mechanism carried by said carriage.

El ln a hedge clipper, the combination of a base, a column hinged thereto, a longitudinal support connected with and supported by the column, adjustable means associated with the base and the longitudinal support to maintainsaid support and the columnin various positions, a carriage movable on the support, and cutting mechanism carriedl by said carriage; the said adjustable means being pivoted and clamped to the base, and the support carrying a sleeve movable on a portion oi" said means.

8. ln a hedge clipper, the combination of a base, a column hinged thereto, gravitational means associated with the column, a longitudinal support connected with said gravitational means, adjustable means associated with the base and the longitudinal support to maintain said support and the column in various positions, means on the gravitational means and engaging the column to detachably holdy the column against gravitation, a carriage movable on the support, cutting mechanism carried by the carriage and operable by movement of the carriage relative to the support, and means operable by the carriage to disengage the holding means fromthe column.

9. ln a hedge clipper, the combinationof a base, a column hinged thereto, gravitationalmeans associated with the column, a longitudinal support connected with said gravitational means, adjustable means associated with the base and the longitudinal support to maintain said support. and the column in variouspositions, means on the gravitational means andv engaging the column to detachably hold the column against gravitation, a carriage movable on the supvriage and opera messes port, cutting mechanism carried by the carble by movement of the carriage relative to the support, and means operable by the carriage to disengage the hold ing means from the column, said means including a rod on the support and a spring to move said rod in one direction.

10. The combination of a column having an upright channel and spaced steps therein, a sleeve movable endvvise on said column, a support carried by said sleeve, a lspringpressed lever` carried by the sleeve and arranged to engage the column steps and hold the sleeve against downward movement, a toothed Wheel on the sleeve arranged when moved to disengage said lever andr permit i gravitation of the sleeve, and means to turn or move said Whee 11. The combination of a column having an upright rack, a sleeve movable endvvise on said column, a support sleeve, a gear carried by meshed With said rack, an apertured Wheel also carried by the sleeve and connected with said gear, a detent carried by the sleeve to carried by saidv theJl sleeve and' engage the 4apertures of said Wheel, and a .K

rod with a cam slot receiving said detent. y

In testimony whereof, I afIiX myv signay ture. y

EVERETTE C. CONRADE. 

